Godfather's Pizza Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Godfather's Pizza serves up delicious pizzas, made with fresh dough, premium toppings, and signature sauce recipes, providing customers with a satisfying and flavorful dining experience.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

599

Franchise fee

$7,500 to $25,000

Investment

$153,000 - $1,159,000

Revenue (AUV)

n.a.

Founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1973 by Willy Theisen, Godfather’s Pizza began as a bold concept that combined rich, thick-crust pizza with a generous helping of toppings. Theisen’s vision quickly resonated with customers, leading to the launch of the first franchise just a year later in Lincoln, Nebraska.

By the early 1980s, the chain had expanded to over 900 locations, becoming one of the fastest-growing pizza franchises in the United States. Today, Godfather’s Pizza is headquartered at 2808 North 108th Street in Omaha, Nebraska, and operates approximately 445 locations nationwide.

Godfather’s Pizza is renowned for its commitment to quality, offering a menu that features pizzas with thick, buttery crusts and abundant toppings, as well as sandwiches, salads, and other Italian-American favorites.

This dedication to hearty, flavorful offerings sets it apart from competitors, providing customers with a satisfying dining experience that emphasizes both taste and value.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Godfather's Pizza franchise is $153,000 - $1,159,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Godfather’s Pizza offers 4 types of franchises:

Business Type	Initial Investment Range
Godfather’s Pizza Full-Service Restaurant	$607,300 to $1,159,300
Convenience Store or Other Non-Traditional Location	$153,200 to $356,400
Delivery/Carryout Location	$428,300 to $775,600
Purchase an Existing Company-Operated Location	$158,200 to $645,800

‍

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Godfather’s Pizza Full-Service Restaurant. For more information on costs required to start a Godfather’s Pizza franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Development Fee	$3,000 per unit
Initial Franchise Fee	$0-$25,000
Site Submission Deposit	$3,000
Continuing Fee Deposit	$0-$5,000
Advertising	$2,000-$10,000
Equipment	$150,000-$285,000
Opening Inventory	$9,000-$13,000
Lease of Real Estate (3 months)	$12,000-$50,000
Leasehold Improvements	$300,000-$500,000
Insurance	$7,800-$24,000
Misc. Opening Costs	$12,500
Signs	$7,500-$15,000
Initial Training	$4,500-$7,800
Additional Funds (3 months)	$90,000-$200,000
Total	$607,300-$1,159,300

Godfather’s Pizza offers 4 types of franchises:

Business Type	Initial Investment Range
Godfather’s Pizza Full-Service Restaurant	$607,300 to $1,159,300
Convenience Store or Other Non-Traditional Location	$153,200 to $356,400
Delivery/Carryout Location	$428,300 to $775,600
Purchase an Existing Company-Operated Location	$158,200 to $645,800

‍

Type of Expenditure	Amount
Development Fee	$3,000 per unit
Initial Franchise Fee	$0-$25,000
Site Submission Deposit	$3,000
Continuing Fee Deposit	$0-$5,000
Advertising	$2,000-$10,000
Equipment	$150,000-$285,000
Opening Inventory	$9,000-$13,000
Lease of Real Estate (3 months)	$12,000-$50,000
Leasehold Improvements	$300,000-$500,000
Insurance	$7,800-$24,000
Misc. Opening Costs	$12,500
Signs	$7,500-$15,000
Initial Training	$4,500-$7,800
Additional Funds (3 months)	$90,000-$200,000
Total	$607,300-$1,159,300

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Godfather's Pizza's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Godfather's Pizza had 608 total units in 2023, of which 599 were franchised-owned and 9 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Godfather's Pizza

key competitors in the

Pizza

sector.

Franchise

599

New

3.25%

$153,000

$1,159,000

n.a.

Cicis Pizza

$200K - $500K

259

New

-12%

5% to 6%

$242,000

$1,019,000

n.a.

Piezoni's

$200K - $500K

New

5.00%

$315,000

$396,000

n.a.

Sbarro's Pizza

$200K - $500K

197

New

42%

5% to 7%

$207,000

$946,000

n.a.

Singas Famous Pizza

$200K - $500K

New

78%

5.00%

$257,000

$792,000

n.a.

Green Mill Restaurants

Over $500K

New

-6%

4.00%

$1,672,000

$2,493,000

n.a.

Ledo Pizza

$200K - $500K

113

New

5.00%

$206,000

$673,000

$1,193,000

n.a.

Training

Godfather’s Pizza offers a comprehensive training program designed to prepare franchisees and their staff for operating their restaurant locations effectively. The training is required before opening and continues throughout the franchise relationship. Here are the main training components:

Initial Training Program
Franchisees, managers, and multi-unit supervisors must complete an in-person training program at a site specified by the company. The program must be completed prior to opening, and fees include $750 per trainee for traditional locations and $500 for non-traditional ones.
Online Training – The Informant
All new hires are required to complete their assigned online training path within 30 days of hiring. This ensures consistent onboarding and standard adherence across all locations.
Refresher and Specialized Training
The franchisor may require periodic refresher courses for franchisees and managers. These may cover updated operational procedures, fee reporting systems, or marketing programs, and are sometimes delivered via teleconferences or remote formats.
Manager and Supervisor Certification
Any new manager or multi-unit supervisor must successfully complete the company’s training program. Additional training can be assigned as needed, and certifications are awarded upon completion.

Territory Protection

Godfather’s Pizza generally does not offer exclusive territory protection to its franchisees. Franchisees are allowed to operate only at a specific approved location and may face direct competition from other Godfather’s Pizza outlets owned or franchised by the company in the same area. The company explicitly states that no exclusive territory is granted for traditional or non-traditional locations under normal circumstances.

However, there are rare exceptions. In specific cases—typically involving high-visibility sites or strategic areas—Godfather’s Pizza may grant an exclusive territory if a prospective franchisee demands it as a condition for opening a location. In such cases, the territory’s size and boundaries are defined at the company’s discretion and documented in the Franchise Agreement.